Adam Thielen Returns to the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have finalized the return of Adam Thielen through a trade with the Carolina Panthers, giving the veteran receiver the opportunity to finish his career in his home state, where he was born, grew up, and developed most of his NFL career.
In this agreement, the Panthers will receive a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft and a fourth-round pick in 2027. For their part, the Vikings will get Thielen, a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027.
According to sources, the Vikings will assume the payment of Thielen’s remaining salary for the 2025 season. Both parties are working on a contract review to define his final compensation in 2025.
Thielen, born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, played at the collegiate level at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He spent the first nine seasons of his professional career with the Vikings. After being released after the 2022 season, his return comes to reinforce the receiver position, which has been weakened by Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension and injuries suffered by other receivers during training camp.
Depending on how the next two weeks evolve, Thielen is a strong candidate to start alongside Justin Jefferson in the Vikings’ first game against the Chicago Bears.
During his time with the Vikings, Thielen accumulated 534 receptions, a figure only surpassed by Cris Carter and Randy Moss in team history, both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Thielen’s knowledge of coach Kevin O’Connell’s game plan makes him a valuable asset for the Vikings, who have suffered the injury of Rondale Moore and uncertainty surrounding Jalen Nailor.
Additionally, Thielen has spent time with quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the last two summers as part of a group of NFL players based in Minnesota who train together before the start of training camp.
Thielen, 35, was undrafted in 2013 and didn’t immediately sign with a team as a rookie free agent. The Vikings invited him to their rookie minicamp, as part of a program to feature local players.
After that training camp, Thielen signed a full contract. He became a starter in the middle of the 2016 season and was called to the Pro Bowl in 2017 and 2018, with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
However, the Vikings’ offense began to focus on Jefferson after his rookie debut in 2020, and by 2022, Thielen became a secondary option. The Vikings released Thielen after the season.
